This is a project started by the Quilters of Ave Maria Catholic Church to raise funds for materials to build houses for needy families in Juarez, Mexico. This project is coordinated through the Southern Exposure Group from Spirit of Christ Catholic Church in Arvada, Colorado.

Southern Exposure Inc. was established in 1999 to respond to incredibly harsh living conditions in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Juarez is located just minutes across the United States - Mexico border from El Paso, Texas. Southern Exposure was created to better the living conditions of families with greatest need by building them a weather - resistant concrete and wood structure to call home.

In addition to raising money to build homes, Southern Exposure is committed to raising the awareness of people living in the United States about life in the third-world. This is accomplished through an immersion experience and the home building experience. Each of the homes is built by a team of ten to twelve volunteers who stay in Juarez for one week. Southern Exposure has a construction team leader who lives in Juarez and is on-site for every home built.

A local community-based group from the San Alfonso Mission selects the families with the most need. The families are chosen regardless of church affiliation or regular church attendance. The new home will replace the previous pallet and cardboard shelters in the same location.

The Ave Maria volunteers first trip to Juarez was in September of 2001 which was the beginning of several trips to help the needy of Mexico. The volunteers from Ave Maria have built 14 houses to date (Casas #49, #75, #100, #131, #132, #158, #159, #190, #191, #214, #224, #241, #242 and #252).

In 2004 after building five houses we have decided to give our Group a name, We have decided to call the group. "Hands Of Hope" which in Spanish is "Manos De Esperanza".

All the members that have participated in this project are overwhelmed with the feeling of satisfaction when you see the families take possession of their home and you know God has brought hope to those in need.  We all thank God for our health and the opportunity to do Gods work for our brothers and sisters of a less fortunate country.

We wish everybody who looks at this site the very best in their lives and hope that you will also join in with us as we plan for the next year and a trip to Mexico to help a needy family.

By watching the above video one can see the harsh living conditions our brothers and sisters in Juarez, Mexico live in daily.

Once a house is completed and the family take possession of the house you can see and share with them a dream come true, for now they have a safe place to protect their family and become a home.

From the Hands of Hope teams from Ave Maria we have now had 68 different people that have participated in this building project. All these individuals gave a week a year of their time to go to a third world country to help improve their quality of life.